The United States’ National Hurricane Centre estimates Ernesto will make landfall with Ireland this afternoon before unleashing its death throes across Britain at around 8pm.

In a statement this morning a spokesman said: “The post-tropical cyclone or its remnants are expected to spread gusty winds and locally heavy rain over portions of Ireland and the United Kingdom tonight and early Sunday.

“[It] is moving toward the east-northeast near 35 mph and this motion is expected to continue for the next 12 to 24 hours.

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Netweather forecaster Nick Finnis said Britain’s weather will be influenced by Atlantic low pressure into next week.

He said: “This weekend our weather will be coming in off the Atlantic, so unfortunately it will be on the cloudy side, with the addition of an ex-tropical storm named Ernesto in the mix – which will bring wet and windy weather tonight into Sunday morning, the rain mostly across northern Britain.

“It will feel humid across the south though, as we draw in tropical air ahead of ex-Ernesto, and if the sun comes out across the south – it will feel rather warm.

“The changeable conditions off the Atlantic will continue next week, often breezy, but most of the rain across the north just briefly affecting the south perhaps on Thursday, where the sun comes out it will feel warm in the south.”